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welcometothejianghu · 3 months

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Welcome to another round of W2 Tells You What You Should See, where W2 (me) tries to sell you (you) on something you should be watching. Today's choice: 民国奇探/My Roommate is a Detective.

My Roommate is a Detective is a 2020 drama about the Jazz Age shenanigans of a terrible OT3: a useless noodle boy, a spoiled journalist girl, and a handsome thug-turned-cop, who together solve Agatha Christie mysteries in 1920s Shanghai.

I mean, seriously, have you ever wondered what Hercule Poirot would be like if he were a 6'2" Chinese rubber man? If he had a long-suffering sugar daddy from the wrong side of the tracks and a spunky sugar mommy who owned their shared apartment? The answer is, it would be a laugh-out-loud-funny series about a ridiculous and charming assortment of weirdos solving only slightly believable murder mysteries in charming period clothing.

This is another one of those shows where I'm kind of shocked at how not well-known it is, except I'm not, because I can see exactly the problems that keep fandom from descending on it like horny little vultures. Nonetheless, I think it's a good time that more people would enjoy if they gave it the chance. Here's five reasons why you should:

1. Equal parts smart as heck and dumb as butts

On the one hand, especially given its tone and tenor, this show has many surprisingly clever turns and thoughtful moments, carried along by some talented actors. On the other hand, [.gif of a guinea pig in a rollerskate being pushed merrily down a hallway]

This show is not a complicated intellectual exercise. It's an action comedy about a goofy sleuth, a rich-girl reporter, and the cop who should be the straight man in this trio, except he's as much of a goober as the other two are. If the promotional tableaus are giving you real "cover of a Clue box" vibes, you've understood the kind of pastiche it's pulling off.

The mysteries are preposterous. They're all the kind of thing that exemplify the Doyle line about how, when you've eliminated the impossible, whatever's left has got to be the answer, no matter how ding-dang improbable it may be. You know the type: tons of overly elaborate setups, unbelievably perfect timing, coincidental long-lost relatives, people hallucinating right and left. They're also very short -- most full cases take only 2-3 episodes to introduce, investigate, and resolve, even when interspersed with the larger goings-on in these weirdos' lives. The DramaWiki page for the show lists 23 separate arcs over 36 episodes, so you do the math.

And yet, it's way more thoughtful and clever than its doofy little setup would indicate. Its attention to detail surprised me on more than one occasion. Add to that a bunch of solid performances from an ensemble of real characters, and what you get is definitely more substantive than a junk-food waste of time. You can't turn your brain off while watching it, but you sure can turn it down, and that's great.

It also doesn't hurt that everyone is super attractive and wearing great outfits. The whole show's worth it for the wardrobes.

2. THE GIRL

Fuck the haters, fuck everyone, I am going to climb right up on my little soapbox and tell you all why Bai Youning is awesome.

She is insane. She's a troll. She's a clever little monster. Every other character's response to her is, oh my god, you are literally the worst. And she is! She has been spoiled beyond belief by her incredibly rich Crime Dad, and she has learned to leverage her uwu just a widdle girl status to get her whatever the hell she wants. She simply cannot hear it when someone says the word "no." She will look her future sister-in-law in the eye and point a loaded gun at her own head without blinking. Every ball she has is made of brass.

She's hardly perfect. During the course of the show, there are some times where her entitlement runs face-first into the brick wall of reality. She's not nearly as good at her chosen career path as she's been told (mostly by the people who get paid to tell her she's good). She's rarely prepared to deal with the consequences of her actions, especially when she can't just throw money at the problem.

So she learns, and grows, and changes. She's always going to be a stubborn bitch, but she can become a stubborn bitch with a more accurate conception of her relationship to the world around her.

She's actually a really good romantic foil for Lu Yao, who is equally stubborn and spoiled and obnoxious as hell. It is a pure brat4brat relationship, where each one thrives on comically enraging the other. What this means, though, is that when they actually start showing one another some vulnerability, it's really sweet.

Now: I'm pretty sure that you could not have made a female character in her position that everyone did not hate, no matter how cool you made her, because that is the fate of all girls who theoretically keep the two boys from kissing. (More on that next point.) If she were less outgoing and friendly, she would've been hated for being too cold. If she were less headstrong, she would've been hated for being a pushover. If she weren't as into the boy, she would've been hated for being frigid. I know the "god forbid a woman do anything" meme is a joke, but ... man, god forbid this girl do anything. She gets a level of hate entirely disproportionate to what she's actually like. As I said with Eom Dada, it's not always sexism, but sometimes, yeah, it's sexism.

(Real talk: Her character is also fighting both how she's definitely not written as well as the boys are and how the plot sometimes needs her to be artificially stupid and jealous for Straightness Drama Reasons, so that's a legit problem on a structural level. Also, she's dubbed by someone else and the boys aren't, which gives her voice an annoying not-quite-there quality that's hard to ignore. The deck is stacked against her real hard even before she steps onscreen.)

So here's my advice: Go into this show wanting to like her. Embrace her terribleness as a positive, intentional quality. Don't be mad at her for straightening up an endgame that was never going to be gay, even without her. Welcome her contributions to the chaos. Realize that she is exactly as entertainingly irritating as her boys are.

Truly, this is a story of three terrible people in love. They're all just awful, and you wouldn't want to be in a room with any of them for longer than you had to. Left to right up there, Bai Youning is spoiled and self-absorbed, Lu Yao is arrogant and lazy, and Qiao Chusheng is suuuuuch a fucking cop. If you're into the kind of dynamic that can only be described OT3: You All Deserve One Another, then this one's perfect for you.

3. Do you really miss '00s queerbaiting?

Like, really? Are you just super-nostalgic for being able to see the showrunners go, ha ha, girls, we know you're watching and we know you want these cute boys to kiss, which they never will -- but what if we pretended for just this one scene??? Do you just carnally ache for that with every fiber of your being?

Yep.

Now, why am I calling the occasional really gay moments between these two gentlemen "queerbaiting" and not "bromance"? Because these moments are a) obviously intentional, b) completely sporadic, and c) never spoken of again.

For example: There's a scene (which you can see a gifset of here) where the two of them are at a restaurant frequented by the cop, who brings a lot of ladies there on dates. When the waiter points this out, useless noodle boy says, I'm his date. The waiter looks mildly surprised by this, the cop says not to listen to his bullshit, and that's the end of it. The scene moves on. There is no further discussion of this comment. It does not affect their relationship.

That's the essence of queerbaiting: that little on-purpose nod to the homoerotic tension between the two, in a way that isn't a joke but also isn't not a joke, and either way is never going to happen. (In fact, the show is going to go out of its way to make sure that ship gets sunk, so, uh, get your fanfiction lifeboats ready for that.)

A true queerbaiting move is something that should make a difference in a relationship, but doesn't. It should make a difference that our cop is so comfortable in the noodle boy's personal space that he invades it at will. It doesn't. It should make a difference that noodle boy keeps getting real weird every time the cop has a date with a girl. It doesn't. Those are some real romantic moves the two of them keep pulling, and then nothing comes of them.

I had this show sold to me as being incredibly shippy, to the point of being even more so than its censored-BL contemporaries. And ... well, it is and it isn't. It has textually gayer individual moments, but it is much less pervasively gay. It's clear from the start that it's going to throw all its actual relationship points into its canon het romance. When it comes to these boys, the show is toying with you. It knows you want to see those boys smooch, just as much as it knows (and it knows you know) they're never gonna.

How you feel about this is entirely up to you -- and indeed, it may be a dealbreaker on the whole drama for you. If you are inclined to pitch a fit when your ship does not become canon, you'll be happier somewhere else. If, however, you see this as a delightful opportunity to do whatever the hell you want with the situation as it is presented, all the while enjoying little moments of startlingly blatant homoeroticism between two handsome dudes, well, here you are!

(I mean, if you want my take on it, what needs to happen is that the cop and the girl need to fuck while the useless noodle boy watches with asexual bisexual interest, and then they all need to snuggle with the noodle boy in the middle so they can both annoy him appropriately, but your mileage may vary.)

4. The multicultural extravaganza!

1920s Shanghai had a lot going on in terms of cultures and languages, and this show actually does a fair job of representing that.

By now, I've seen a number of shows set during this era, and they all at least acknowledge the international nature of the city -- usually by mentioning the French Concession and having a handful of evil Japanese characters. However, this is the first time I've seen a show go to such lengths to actually show so many non-Chinese characters onscreen, even to the point of making one a recurring character supporting the main squad.

Salim is the best. Whatever he is being paid, it's not enough. He's Qiao Chusheng's right-hand man, which means he is also the dude who most often has to put up the main trio's bullshit. (The actor himself is also a dude with a pretty cool backstory, which is another great layer.) He's sharp, he's loyal, he's patient, and he looks great with his shirt off. He's got it all!

Other non-Chinese characters include a white Jewish art collector (I'd issue a warning for period-typical antisemitism, except … honestly, it's mostly just confused), a sadistic priest who maybe is supposed to be Italian, a completely different priest who [last episode spoiler], and three whole sinister white dudes behind it all.

It's not just the world coming to China, though! A large number of the Chinese characters are said to have spent significant time outside of China, whether for business or for schooling. Near the end, when some characters are discussing moving away from Shanghai, they consider a number of foreign cities as potential destinations.

Here's a delightful detail: When Lu Yao and his sister speak English, they're dubbed by actors with posh British accents who sound like native (or near-native) English-speakers. This makes perfect sense, because both of the siblings did a lot of their schooling in the UK. When Bai Youning speaks English, she's dubbed by someone who speaks English very well but also has a noticeable Chinese accent, which makes perfect sense for her character's background. And Qiao Chusheng never speaks English at all, because he's a street tough who has no reason to know more than three words.

...This is also kind of weird to say about something literally made in China, but go with me on it: Everything's kind of got that Art Deco Orientalist vibe to it. It looks like China's idea of what Britain's idea of China during that period would have looked like. The result comes across less like what 1920s Shanghai would actually have looked like, and more what an ad for 1920s Shanghai would have looked like. It's a fascinating aesthetic, and more so for how it's mostly pretty subtle. The show isn't some visual extravaganza, but it's always very nice to look at, and I appreciate that in a show.

5. A wonderful horrible protagonist

A lot of mystery-themed prestige television involves an asshole genius detective who gets away with being a dick to everyone because he's sooooo smart, while all his long-suffering friends and colleagues spend a lot of time doing damage control for him because, sigh, he's an asshole but we need him, genius excuses all dickhead behavior, we'll always make exceptions for him because he's just ever so special. (Watch histrionic sage hbomberguy's video on Sherlock if you're unfamiliar with the trope.)

Lu Yao is an asshole genius detective, but one who winds up spending most of his time being an asshole to a) people who deserve it, or b) his horrible friends who will be assholes right back at him. When he is awful to the people who don't deserve it, the show smacks him pretty hard on the nose for it and makes him apologize.

This is a show where you'll figure out pretty quckly if you'll love it or hate it, because if you love Lu Yao, you'll love it, and vice versa. He carries most of the show himself, with his goofy charm and his incredibly bendy slenderman body and his ability to make the one competent person he knows both protect him and give him money.

Like so.

For my own part, I find him intensely charming, and I think a lot of this has to do with Hu Yitian's ability to play him as an affectionately bullyable weenie who needs to get shoved in a locker for his own good. He's the worst, and it's comically endearing instead of offputting because at the end of the day, he really does have a good heart. He's just also lazy as heck and disinclined to do anything that he does not want to be doing, and really, aren't we all?

As I alluded to in point 3, he comes across as real asexual. He's just not that interested in sex, and he is in fact pretty uncomfortable in situations where he finds himself the subject of someone else's sexual desires. He's perfectly capable of romantic feelings! I mean, not only does he get Bai Youning as a love interest, we actually meet one of his ex-girlfriends. He's just not partciularly horny about them -- which is even more noticeable as a sharp contrast to how extremely horny Qiao Chusheng is for just about everyone, but this exasperating little dork in particular.

(Like seriously, 90% of the time, Chusheng is about to explode with sexual frustration at Lu Yao's skinny oblivious ass.)

This isn't to say you couldn't get Lu Yao into bed, because you absolutely could, and he'd probably have a good time. You'd just have to remove all distractions from the room, lest his ADHD ass wind up running off to solve a crime mid-coitus.

Twiggy little nightmare man. Garbage-animal boy. Love him.

sidebar: A word about the ending

I'm going to be vague and talk about general vibes instead of specific events, but you should still skip this section if you want to remain completely unspoiled. Jump to the picture of Chusheng holding the sledgehammer.

Okay, so, a lot of people do not like the ending, and I'm including myself in that number. I honestly don't know if they got rushed and had to wrap everything pretty last-minute, or if they thought they might get a second season out of it and were leaving things open-ended accordingly. Either way, it's incredibly unsatisfying.

I think there's a clue that the show didn't actually want to end this way, and it's not actually in the text of the show itself. Every episode, between the last scene and the start of the credits, you get to see a couple still frames from the episode (usually some of the queerbaity ones). After the very final shot of the series, you get two images: the boys hugging goodbye, and Chusheng's upset face. That's not a resolution! That is at best a "to be continued..." ending!

But no, that's it. That's all, folks.

It's not quite an ending so bad it ruins the rest of the show, mostly because it doesn't feel finished, so it's less like you're watching a car being deliberately driven into a wall because someone thought that was the best route to take, and more like you're watching someone leave a car on the railroad tracks because they figured they'd have time to move it later.

As far as I know, there has been no noise made about a second season. These 36 episodes are the entirety of the narrative. It had the distinct misfortune to start airing in March 2020, which wasn't exactly prime time for planning sequels, and that seems to have been that. (There is a 2022 show called Checkmate that stars the two main guys in extremely similar roles, also adapting Agatha Christie stories, but it's apparently pretty meh? Somebody else who's actually seen it, go ahead and weigh in here.)

I'll say that if you turn off the episode right after Lu Yao gets out the handcuffs, you'll save yourself the worst of it the awkward and unsatisfying moments (though I'm impressed at your willpower to stop watching something five minutes from the end). That's not all of it, though. Structurally, there are several situations rushed to a resolution and loose threads left flapping untied in the breeze. I guess stopping before the last five minutes simply saves you the hope that it'll pull a good ending out of the fire, because it won't.

And let's be real: The more you hate Bai Youning and her romance with Lu Yao, the more you'll hate the ending. (Not that liking those elements will necessarily make you like the ending, of course, because I'm a fan of hers and I still think the ending is butts.) The ending is already like a pair of uncomfortable shoes; if the het romance especially makes you grind your teeth, the ending becomes a pair of uncomfortable shoes that also have a rock in them. A lot of the comments online indicate plenty of people dropped the show when they learned the het romance would be endgame. It's a pretty common dealbreaker.

Oh well. Bring on the fanfic, I say! Those of us who are used to taking a sledgehammer to canon are unafraid.

Smash it, baby.

Still want to see some of these mysteries?

Both iQiyi and Viki have the answer to your sleuthing!

It's not a perfect show -- as evidenced by my digression about the ending -- but it's a lot of fun. If you can handle the occasional foible and some eyebrow-raising moments, you're in for a good time with some attractive people that occasionally tastes very gay.

Every roommate crazy 'bout a sharp-dressed man

#my roommate is a detective #民国奇探 #rec post #i made this

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rey-jake-therapist · 3 months

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Elementary fandom vs other fandoms

A while ago I posted about Elementary after I watched a couple of episodes to say I didn't like it. I was just fresh out of watching the four seasons of the BBC Sherlock and it just didn't feel right, I didn't like it at all.

Finally, because I was too lazy to look for another show to watch, I kept watching and now, I'm at season 7 😅 Did my mind fundamentally change? Honestly, no. BBC Sherlock will always be superior to me, I don't care it's trendy to hate it now. I do like Elementary now, though. Sherlock and Joan (well especially Joan) have grown on me. I still think Elementary lacks originality, I find the structure of the episodes too rigid, there are way too many episodes, things in the global story I really don't like. The copaganda for example, urgh... There's a lot of screen time dedicated to the cops and how good and honest and united they are. There are some bad apples but we're really supposed to believe that they're *rare*.... And I love Marcus Bell and Captain Gregson but they're so smart you even wonder why they need Sherlock in the first place 😂 But there are things I really love too: Joan being more than a sidekick to Sherlock is one of them. She has agency, he trains her, respects her.... I must say, it's pleasant to see. Also I love seeing Sherlock being a mentor. That's what he should be, really...

Another thing this show did for me was to convince me to read the ACD canon books. I read a couple of them when I was a teen but I was more a Hector Poirot girlie - EDIT: damn autocorrect! his name's Hercule of course). I know for a fact that Elementary Sherlock is closer to the book that BBC Sherlock, and the show makes multiple references to the ACD canon but I'm unable to identify most of them, which probably influences my reaction to the show. I need to read the books and watch the show again :)

So, it's a fine detective show, a feel good show as well because the morals is always good, characters given a second chance when they mess up, bad guys punished as they should.... Johnny Lee Miller does a fine job at showing the character's complex personality, and his partnership with Lucy Liu is flawless :) They're just adorable together. They totally remind me of Mulder and Scully, but without the unbearable sexual tension, which is why I spent 6 seasons 1/2 being fine with the fact that they wouldn't end up together as a couple.

I wish I had known the fandom when the show was broadcasting, because I haven't heard of any fit of rage when Joan and Sherlock didn't become canon?? And yet lmao, at least 70% of their interactions is romance-coded. Like, if JohnLock shippers think they were baited, Sherlock and Joan shippers were baited much, much more. Seriously, there's even a declaration of LOVE. When Sherlock has to run away to London, Joan follows him there!! They're completely co-dependant, all their attempt to have romantic relationships with other people fail... At some point Joan needs to go her own way and Sherlock respect that.

They take care of each other, all the time. If one is in danger, the other becomes feral. Sherlock especially would do everything to protect Joan from getting harm, and surely so would she. There are so many moments that could be confused with jealousy/possessiveness, so many sweet speeches that probably made the shippers think, "no way this is platonic!" .

Not me, though, because I believe in platonic love, always did, and that's what Sherlock's story was always about: a strong, unbreakable bond between two people who love each other but don't need to have sex to feel or express it. I say they remind me of Mulder and Scully because in both cases, it didn't have to become a romance. I shipped Mulder and Scully, yes, but for years I was quite certain that they woud never become romantic and I was fine with that. What they had was already beautiful.

And frankly, Joan and Sherlock's friendship higlights everything that's wrong with Sherlock and John's in the BBC show. It's a balanced relationship! they didn't have to become a romance because they're a perfect friendship, but if they did it would be ok, because it would not be toxic. Joan never beat Sherlock up, for a start. She never slaps him, they never insult each other. Sherlock is sometimes a prick to her but he always comes around because he respects her a lot. There's nothing in their interactions that makes me think, "wow, if they were a couple that would be so fucked up!", while, sorry but I had this thought about John and Sherlock a dozen of times, especially during season 4 but even before that.

So if I'm not wrong and shippers were cool with the ending, well... kudos guys.

@tickldpnk8

#cbs elementary #johnny lee miller #lucy liu #sherlock vs elementary #mulder and scully

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aporeticelenchus · 6 days

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I know this is like so annoying but just wanted to pop on and say that I used to listen to the Bibliovore podcast BIBLICALLY, listen and relisten to episodes in high school, when they provided a much-welcome distraction from the gym. I feel like y’all really helped inspire a love of discussing books and having fun with that in me, and now I get to do that every day at my job, working in publishing. Thank you, hope you’re doing well <3

Oh my gosh, this message is SO SWEET and I just realized that I

a. got it in February

b. Thought to myself "I should sit down and write a reply about how moved I am"

c. Immediately came down with an incredibly nasty bout of the flu for several weeks and FORGOT I HADN'T RESPONDED.

Anon, this is so so lovely and I'm delighted that you're still enjoying books and, I hope, living your best life. I also hope that you get this response! I'm going to forward your message to Kate and I'll update if she responds (I simply cannot risk leaving posting for later and having my brain delete the message responding task. again.).

To answer your question, I'm doing great. There's never enough time for all the books I want to read, but that's just the human condition. Last year I read all of Agatha Christie's Poirot and Miss Marple books, and in hopes of a similar period mystery hit I just picked up the first Lord Peter Wimsey book. Wish me luck!

#elenchus chats #seriously though anon I'm very moved and really hope you haven't wandered away from the blog in annoyance at my lack of response #I'm very sorry my brain is not fit for company or executive function!

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mrskillingjoke · 2 years

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Ok, I have a honest question.

How is it for people who don't see shippings?

Like actually I don't know how they watch something, like Sherlock, and are just like: they are good friends, don't make them gay.

And I get it. not everything is gay... So? Not everything is straight.

Sherlock, good omens, Sandman, Poirot etc.

I always fighting with my parents (mostly my father) about shippings. And everytime he say something like: "not everything is gay." or "they are friends, best friends at least. Of course they love each other in some kind; just not romantically."

So, not everything is gay but again not everything is straight. And friends love each other, we all know. But not in that way, everyone there is looking at each other. Either I don't make something gay, they can perfectly doing it theyself.

Like in 'good omens' (the book especially) were Crowley hit Anathema with his Car and he and Aziraphale take her home. He said something like: "get in, Angel" and in the books we can read her thoughts about that. She is just like: "oh they are gay. That explains everything." And that's just one thing.

And don't get me started about 'sherlock'. In the old books John just love to watch Sherlocks humanity. Not his brain! The moments were he shows, he's actuall human and have a heart. The movies with robert downey jr... He just sit there in prison and literally say: "you are my boyfriend, I have the rights to wear your clothes." And of course the series. These looks. Mh... purness of love and pining.

How does other people interpretate these looks. Because my parents are like: "they are Friends and trust each other blablabla...-"

But actually I don't think I look at my friends Like that. And I love and trust them in a platonic way.

I am just very confused. How is it to see the world through those little brains?

Today I watched a episode of 'poirot' the series. (S2e5) and Hastings had hold the umbrella for both of them; like permanently. The way he looked when Poirot compliments him; just like: I love you so much, thank you 🙏"; it's like I think they are in a secret relationship.

And not only in this episode. I see it everytime I watch an episode in the series.

My father didn't get it... And I don't know how?

Like i know why, because he deosn't ship anything. But how can you see through such this much gayness?

(gif is from "the three caballeros 1944")

My little compadre Pablo here is excactly what I feel like. I can't see through the gayness, even if I try.

So how does all of this look for people who don't see gay?

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emily-mooon · 1 month

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It’s that time again: Late night Nordegrim headcanons!

- they watch iconic Canadian historical crime show Murdoch Mysteries together. I’ve said it before and I shall say it again, Neil likes detective mystery shows like Poirot. They both have fun trying to figure out who did it. Stacey also likes it for the character relationship drama cause let me tell you that show has a crap ton of it and it can get very interesting (depends on the season though tbh).

-to add to the prev headcanon, Wallace also watches it and sometime after season 6, he made a drinking game for it. All three of them got wasted first time they played it cause it was a James Pendrick episode (those episodes along with Terrence Meyers episodes have a formula to them with little reoccurring details)

- even though I’ve stated that Neil’s the little spoon, there are times where he is the big spoon and that’s when Stacey has a bad day. She just wants her boyfriend/husband to wrap his arms around her on those days

-In the future when Stacey is an English teacher, she’ll sometimes wear one of Neil’s T-shirts to work under a flannel or something. Usually it’s when he’s out on a set that’s out of province and sometimes outside of Canada but she’ll also do it when he’s home

- Mr. and Mrs. Pilgrim love Neil. They love their daughter’s dorky boyfriend. They play Clue together on Friday nights

- Stacey is the one who uses pet names the most. Neil is far too awkward to call her any. He can make out with her in a the Tim Hortons, but his ass will freeze in any attempt to call her ‘honey’ out in public (he has called her ‘bunny’ once and both of them were flustered)

-DOUBLE👏DATES 👏WITH 👏MOBILLACE!!! I will not elaborate further as to why, you can guess what the dates are like

- When Stacey saw Neil smile for the first time (I don’t think he smiles very often), it was all over at that point. She fell even harder for him based on his awkward but cute smile (and also laugh ngl)

- They did ONE jam session with Shatterband. You can try to pry bassist Neil from my hands but ultimately you’d fail cause I, a bassist, have a firm grip on it.He plays bass with them sometimes cause he thinks it would make it better. Stacey I think is a pretty good singer, so she did the singing (makes sense since she is played by Anna Kendrick who is an amazing singer. But imo Stacey is a little bit below the former)

- Bringing back the ‘they elope on a rock on a beach on the east coast’ headcanon back. They would do it. At first Stacey just proposed to Neil and they both agreed to wait a little bit, but they’re dorks and on a whim eloped cause a ceremony sounded intimidating and also expensive. Their witnesses was Neil’s uncle and aunt as they live there (Neil has family on the east coast in my heart)

Im gonna stop now cause I’m tired. Im sorry if some of them sound incoherent. As I said I’m tired and if there are any spelling mistakes or what not, I’ll fix them in the morning.

So goodnight and hoped you liked them! :]

#the first two I made another night I’m just coming back to this draft :]#the rest are your traditional late night thought dump headcanons #they first two were too but I was tired and fell asleep #scott pilgrim #young neil #neil nordegraf #stacey pilgrim #nordegrim #emilys headcanons

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9leaguesofmirrors · 8 months

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My Favourite Steve Characters

It's September 1st, also known as Steve Pemberton's birthday! I did one of these lists for Reece's birthday, and I wanted to do one for Steve too because I feel like not enough people talk about his amazing acting

These are in no particular order

Tony Martin - The Interrogation Of Tony Martin

This film was originally on Channel 4 and can now be found on Netflix. It's a verbatim piece about the true story of Tony Martin and why he killed two young boys that intruded on his home. Steve manages to be both cold and unsettling and surprisingly sympathetic in the role, everything he does is subtle and refined to produce an incredibly realistic performance

Trevor - Love's Great Adventure

I don't think I'll ever stop singing the praise of Love's Great Adventure, people overlook it because it doesn't have a dark twist but it's honestly one of the best episodes of the entire series! Steve Pemberton delivers such a raw performance that it left me wishing there was a spin-off series! The entire episode is beautiful, and Trevor is a huge part of the reason; I could praise Steve's ability to dig up such pure, unbridled feeling in every character he plays for ages!

Dr Bessner - Death On The Nile (2004)

I'm a sucker for a good Agatha Christie, especially Poirot, so finding out that Steve Pemberton was in one of the remakes made me very excited - and, as always, he delivers. Dr Bessner is a character which may end up fading into the back of people's memories, but Steve Pemberton managed to make every scene he was in very entertaining. It goes to show that he knows how to pull focus without taking away from other cast members, a credit to both his dedication and kindness

Len - Bernie Clifton's Dressing Room

I mean, he won a BAFTA for this one, that says it all! When we first meet Len, he's portrayed as a sweet, funny man with plenty of charisma. However, as the episode continues, Steve manages to show this façade break more and more until we see to the core of a man that's ruined his life and lost his way. Steve managed to perfectly portray Len as a flawed character while simultaneously making the audience sympathise with him and want him to get the help he needs

Galen - Thinking Out Loud

NOBODY can deny Steve Pemberton's range, not after watching Thinking Out Loud. He's positively frightening as Galen, using stillness and a measured delivery to create an unnerving character - at one point, he leaned forward and I actually jumped backwards!

Pauline Campbell-Jones - The League of Gentlemen

This list wouldn't be complete with the iconic Pauline Campbell-Jones! Steve's comedic timing and delivery skills makes her one to watch, but there are also moments where we see another side to her that's unexpected yet surprisingly heartwarming. Yet another example of Steve's fantastic range giving even the most comedic characters depth

Joe - The Last Weekend SPOILERS BELOW

Like Thinking Out Loud, this episode has a very controversial ending. But I want to step away from that for a moment (might make a post about it at some point, I'm not sure) to appreciate how incredible Steve was in it

At first, you sympathise with Joe; he has to deal with having a terrible illness and, on top of that, his partner doesn't exactly treat him that kindly. Steve's ability to pull at the audience's heartstrings really comes into play here... but, even before the big reveal, there are subtle moments where you get the sense that something isn't quite right

And that ending! Steve completely transforms and we're left with a Joe Madison that we've never seen before - and hope we never see in real life! It's perfectly sinister and 100% one of his best acting moments in the series

Of course, these are just a few of his roles and, like Reece, he's a real chameleon that can truly play any part (even if, sometimes, it's just Pauline). Benidorm is on my watch list so I'll be getting to that as soon as possible! I hope Steve's career continues to be full of opportunities!

#steve pemberton #reece shearsmith #inside number 9 #inside no 9 #in9 #the league of gentlemen #league of gentlemen #pauline campbell-jones #love's great adventure #the last weekend #bernie clifton's dressing room #the interrogation of tony martin #thinking out loud #death on the nile #death on the nile 2004 #hercule poirot #agatha christie’s poirot #david suchet

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ereborne · 9 days

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Hey hey, sliding this in under the door in the morning:

For the book as meme, 4 (fav sci-fi), 13 (fav thriller), and 37 (least fav trope used in a way that works for you)?

Did not actually read-read the other responses yet, so questions may have duplicated.

4) Favorite sci-fi: The answer I gave carrionfourth was: "The Ship Who Sang and Dragonsdawn by Anne McCaffrey. Ancillary Mercy by Ann Leckie. Exit Strategy and Network Effect by Martha Wells. The Galaxy and the Ground Within by Becky Chambers. Rescues and the Rhyssa by TS Porter". I stand by all that, it's absolutely correct, but now I'm also thinking about Anne McCaffrey's works in general, and the incredible impact it had on me when I was a kid, to see her work her worldbuilding around so that she had fantasy staples like dragons (the Dragonriders of Pern) and unicorn girls (literally she named that series 'Acorna the Unicorn Girl'. I am in awe) and selkies (the Petaybee serieses) but with so much space travel and science around them that the books themselves still felt clearly sci-fi. She's not the only one, not by a long shot, but she was the first I read, and she changed the way I thought about genre conventions on a fundamental basis. There's a good chance that without her, I wouldn't have ever bothered reading any sci-fi, actually. There was a little chunk of time there where it seemed very much to me that fantasy books were for people (mostly girls) who liked animals and cared about having friends and sci-fi was for people (mostly men) who liked being very smart and having other people be afraid of them, and if I'd kept going with that mentality I think I'd be a much unhappier person today.

13) Favorite thriller: Well, having just said all that about being so glad I was taught to think outside the genre binary as a child, now I must confess I don't read a lot of thrillers. There's a level/type of suspense that just translates as stress to me, in a way I don't particularly enjoy (I watched a couple episodes of the Fargo show with Duncan and the intensity kept ramping up and when we turned the tv off my neck and shoulders ached. I'm just not good at it). I do really like mysteries--favorite mystery novel is probably The Secret of Chimneys by Agatha Christie; I mostly preferred the Marple shows but I love the Poirot books--and romantic suspense is great--Elizabeth Lowell (fave Lowell book is Always Time to Die) and Jayne Ann Krentz (Lie to Me) are both fantastic romantic suspense writers--and the crossover of both that is the JD Robb In Death series is an unending delight to me. But mostly I'd say I go for mysteries or adventures over thrillers.

37) Least fav trope used in a way that works for you: I really love The Last-Herald Mage trilogy by Mercedes Lackey, even though it has a tremendous amount of angst and suffering compared to my normal tastes, kills off the main character's love interest in the first book, and then has him show up again reincarnated to pair off with the main character once more. Only Mercedes Lackey could keep me genuinely invested through that storyline. Azure Bonds by Kate Novak and Jeff Grubb, also: amnesia, followed by false memories, with a final flourish of 'am I even a real person if these are my origins', but actually the book's a heckin romp. It's the first in the Finder's Stone trilogy, which is overall deeply entertaining but a real nightmare to try to explain or describe to people who haven't read it.

#asks #sunkentowers #also I'm 90% sure it was you who mentioned the Unicorns of Balinor by Mary Stanton a while back?#for a bit while I was working on carrionfourth's ask I got the questions mixed up and thought one of them was 'favorite unfinished series'#and I was going to say that if it meant permanently-unfinished rather than just ongoing then the Unicorns of Balinor was my answer #I loved those books so much and it broke my heart when the finale never came

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lassusog · 1 year

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Tag game: Eight shows to get to know me!

I was tagged by the lovely @smoothshine, thank you friend ❤️

1. The adventures of Hercule Poirot (Agatha Christie)

This is my favourite show of all time. I don’t even know how many times I’ve watched every episode and this is thirteen seasons long. Agatha Christie is a literary giant and this is arguably one of the best page-to-screen adaptations of all time, for good reason. David Suchet portrays Poirot brilliantly, his friend group is to die for and one episode is enough to scratch that i want a cozy murder mystery where everything works out in the end itch.

2. Sherlock BBC

This show is part of my personality, really, and what originally got me into fandom. Apart from being an incredibly well crafted adaptation, this was also the first time I actually saw a queer couple live together. And no, I don’t take criticism on the fact of their being a queer couple. When I was a baby lesbian Sherlock and Irene Adler where my icons and it was so nice logging on tumblr and seeing people showing love to something gay. Up till then I didn’t think it was possible

3. She-Ra

This show altered my brain chemistry. An actual lesbian couple being the core of an amazing tv series? My heart was blown to bits and reconstructed. I watched this, again, as a baby gay, and it was very affirming and gentle to my heart

4. The end of the f***ing world

I cannot stress how much I love this show. Season 2 especially is such a respectful and kind approach on how traumatic experiences shape our perception of the the world and how much we need people who love and understand us as we learn to navigate it again.

5. Merlin

The first few seasons of this live in my heart rent free, I adore Merlin so much. I want to hug every character. And officiate Merlin and Arthur’s wedding.

6. Feel Good

I can’t say how many times I’ve watched this show but it certainly isn’t a healthy amount. It’s funny, it’s tender and it’s a story about two young queer people learning to accept themselves and love each other. What’s not to love?

7. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood

I’m sorry, I know this show has a brilliant story about two brothers in it but Roy and Riza are the protagonists for me, I just *screams*

8. Criminal: UK

This show is what opened my eyes to what an amazing craft directing is. Everything happens in an interrogation booth but the acting and directing is so good you don’t get bored for a single minute and the cases are excellent as well.

This was very difficult, actually! And I have so many more shows I love that I could place here. I tag: @scienceoftheidiot @qs63, @dairogo @jedidragonwarriorqueen and @chryseis. Have fun!

#tag game #thank you for tagging!!

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harleiquina · 10 months

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All TV series I've ever seen II

Let's see how many I remember from this time period.

1940 - 1970

1980 - 2000 (this post)

2010 - Now

1983 - V

Aliens have come to Earth but they are nice and willing to help us... or so they say.

Everybody remembers Diana eating rats, the dramatic face reveal of any reptilian, Freddy Krueger beeing a good guy (this time) and I'm sure Stephenie Meyers wish that Reneesme/Jacob had the same level of acceptance than "the child from the stars" (name given in Latinoamerica, don't know if it was also used in the original show) and whats-his-name.

Saw it on TV but we also bought the bootleg DVD because my mom and aunt never saw the ending of the show as kids.

1985 - Amazing Stories

I hardly remember anything (I was too young when it was played on TV) but I do remember beeing traumatized by Christopher Lloyd's severed (and reattached) head.

It was created by Spielberg, some stories land better than other ones. Maybe I should try and rewatch some?

1986 - Sledge Hammer

Is he sexist, violent, gun-lover and conservative AF? Yes... but he's also hilarious! This is satire people! Don't be like the NRA that gave somekind of award to this fictional character because they have the same level of comprehension than a brick.

Saw it on TV but it is also available on Youtube.

1986 - ALF

Alien finds himself on a typical american family house and chaos begins.

Do you live under a rock? Don't you know who ALF is? Just go watch it.

It was on TV when I was growing up, I'm pretty sure you can find it anywhere.

1989 - The Simpsons

I will keep on saying it, we argentineans speak in 3 languages: Spanish, Lunfardo (a Buenos Aires dialect but each province has their own as well) and Simpsons' quotes (latin spanish obviously, everyone agrees that it's the definitive Simpsons). Earlier seasons are better, we all know that... they kind of lose us when the original latin dubbers were replaced (it would seem that Disney brought them back but I hardly watch TV now, so I don't know)

1989 - Eureeka's castle.

I don't remember a THING about it but my family says that I was obsessed. It's a Muppet-style show of a young witch apprentice and her friends.

Upon further looking, it was co-written by R. L. Stine? So I didn't got into Goosebumps as a child but got this... who knows?

1989 - Agatha Christie's Poirot

I haven't watched everything just yet (it's been on for 20 years, people!) but I do like David Suchet's Hercules Poirot (my family disagrees because for them Poirot will always be Peter Ustinov). Hey, at least it's not Albert Finney!

1990 - Caloi en su tinta (Caloi in his own ink - Argentina)

It wasn't a series properly said... it didn't have a story to follow. Caloi was a very important artist in my country (his character Clemente became a staple in our comics just like Mafalda) and he had this TV show where he curated animations of all kinds, from all over the world. I remember seeing a stop-motion version of Barber of Sevilla and I think that I also saw Queen's Innuendo videoclip for the first time in here.

Some stories were funny, others melancholic, elegant or grotesque... but all of them were Art, with a capital A.

1990 - Twin Peaks

I don't understand the hype around this show. The only thing that I though was cool was to have a season and a half to find the killer.

Before someone tells me "you have to think how ground breaking it was in the time it came up" or "it's high end art, open your mind to it" trust me I can do that... it doesn't change the fact that I don't see why so many people like it so much.

I'll grant it a few points for showing us David Duchovny as a trans woman FBI agent that saves the day on the episode she shows up. I did like the character.

1993 - The Nanny

What would happen if instead of María taking care of Von Trapp's children in the Alps, we had a jewish it-girl from Flushing, Queens? That was Fran Drescher's pitch, the rest is history.

I got to confess I usually get bored with sit-coms but this is the only one that I can watch over and over again (and the final episode still brings single tear in my eye). Yeah, the whole plot of Fran trying to get pregnant was dragged for too long, but still it's like 3 or 4 episodes, no biggy (unless my memory fails, it's been a while).

1993 - Mighty Morphin Power Rangers

For whatever reason a alien (?) race decided that teenagers are the appropiate warriors so they choose 5 Angel Grove locals to kick Galactic-Witch Rita's ass. Monsters that grow size but still look like rubber suits, the Rangers use spandex but for whatever reason they release sparks when a blade touches them. Still sweet little 4 year old me loved this show.

I checked a few episodes on Youtube not too long ago and I was pleasently surprised by the fact that each monster represented a struggle the Rangers where having on their civilian life... so facing and defeating them actually helped these kids in their ordinary life. A nice message that I completely forgot while self-convincing myself that this show was a lot dumber than I remembered.

Oh! By the way when it was on TV I watched -maybe- up to season 2. When the movie came out I was shocked that Jason, Trini and Zack were not in it.

1993 - The X Files

The most recognizable tune ever, the OG monster-of-the-week format, a skeptic + a believer, some comedy, another bit of drama and , in ocassions, straight-up horror = one of the greatest TV shows ever made.

Regardless what people think I preffer Agent Dogget (there, I said it!!) to Mulder, but of course that sunflower-seed eater, porn aficionado, spooky guy will always be loved either way.

Of course I didn't watched on TV (my mom and aunt had that privilege, I was literally a baby) but I got the whole series on bootleg DVD.

1993 - Frasier

I only watched a few mixed up episodes and I have the first 4 seasons on bootleg DVD but it was my aunt who liked it the most.

A psicologyst with a radio TV show has to live with his dad and his brother visits very often.

You might recognize them as Sideshow Bob and his brother as well.

1994 - Friends

Watched it on cable when I had it, mixed up as usual but still... for whatever reason sitcoms bore me... and this is not the exception. Again, I don't understand the hype.

1995 - Xena: Warrior princess

Ancient Greece, a female warrior... my (probably by the time we got it in Argentina) 6 year-old self loved this show. Until certain fling with Hercules... I didn't liked romance then (or now, but I'm a little more tolerant as an adult) and it ruined the show for me.

Yes, now I see certain undertones that my youngself didn't. I get it. Leave me alone!

1995 - Hercules: The Legendary Journeys

Yeah... I didn't liked Hercules but I watched a few episodes either way. I always liked a good fight on TV.

1996 - Sabrina, the teenage witch

Who didn't wanted to have magical powers growing up becuse of her?

I can't really tell how many season I've watched because, as I said, in Argentina you were lucky if the TV channels bought more than 2 season to repeat on end. Still... I didn't quite liked it as much once she left for collage. Kinda lost its magic *wink, wink*

1996 - Millenium

The year 2000 was upon us and the promise of the end of the world, so Chris Carter decided to play a little bit with it.

Frank Black is a retired agent that has a peculiar way of getting into the mind of the criminals (the audience is the only one that knows that he can see what the criminals see... live) so he is called over an over again to help on different cases.

It ended too soon (got cancelled I believe) but it has its final episode in season 9 of The X Files (if I'm not mistaken). It deals a lot with religion (mostly Christianity) and its a lot darker than Mulder & Scully's adventures (with the exception of that one episode where 4 demons get together in a coffe shop -desguised as old men- and tell their latest works done).

1997 - Meego

I got to be honest with you... I hardly remember anything from this TV show. It was basically ALF but with a human playing an alien instead of a puppet. Still we remember it fondly at home so I guess it was good enough?

1998 - Charmed

Argentina beeing Argentina, I saw a few seasons... maybe... I do remember that I liked more the original 3 sisters.

It's fun... sometimes cheesy... as any tv or film of that time.

1998 - Will & Grace

As I said, sitcoms end up becoming boring and repetitive. But that doesn't take away that sometimes jokes are good... some are very 90, but ah, well...

2000 - Dark Angel

Maybe I saw 2 season on TV but I was obsessed.

Typical supersoldiers experiments developed this superhuman creatures that got tired of beeing an experiment and broke out the facility when they were children, so now as grown ups live in our society. The lead Max (Jessica Alba) has a job as a courrier but every now and then steals, that's how she meets Logan a journalist with vigilante tendencies that needs someone to do the dirty work.

2000 - CSI (later known as Las Vegas)

Have I ever watched a show just to laugh at it? Yes, and it was called CSI, the original (I saw a lot of Miami as well).

I had a few glimpses here and there from this procedural that were the definition of Deus-ex-machina and later I decided to give it a shot just to see if, within this universe, it made sense. And nope.

If one of mom's doctors dissed House for his nearly-impossible diagnosis... I'm pretty sure some forensics did the same with Grissom's team.

Side note I really love Ted Danson, that guy is awesome.

2001 - Law & Order: Criminal Intent.

At first I thought it was a yet another The Brain + Person that explains him like many others... but Goren and Eames are the best detective duo. PERIOD.

You get to see them investigating (so Goren, mostly, doesn't know everything off the bat... he does go to the library, kids) and Eames is not just a blank space for the audience to jump in and have Goren explain everything to her. My favourite moments are when she can add up to his theory by just having the female side of things.

Goren isn't the typical I-only-think kind of detective (like, let's say Poirot) he can -and will- get into dangerous situations when needed.

You have to watch for D'onofrio's performance.

I like Jeff Goldblum as well... but his season was kinda... meh

2002 - Los Simuladores (The Pretenders - Argentina)

What if there was a group of people to solve any kind of situations? And what if this situations are quite basic, borderline stupid, like meeting the in-laws, giving a hard exam at the end of the year and such?

This is it, that's the plot.

This was a huge hit back in the day but it took me a decade (almost) to watch because if you knew argentinean tv and film as I do... you wouldn't believe that there are actually some good ideas burried very very deep in the mud.

2002 - Monk

A detective with OCD is soooo good at his job but cannot be a detective again because of it (it got worse once his wife died in a attack). Fun and wholesome... maybe it did dragged for too long.

And no matter what... we are Sharona stans in this house!

2002 - CSI Miami.

Just like CSI I watched it just to make fun of it (and because in cable they will put all CSIs together in one afternoon so it was easier to compare them).

At least this one didn't take itself too seriously!

2003 - Tru Calling

Med student has a weird ability where dead people can reach her and make her repeat the day to try and save their lives.

It ended too soon on a great cliffhanger that we will never see resolved. Damn it!

2004 - Lost

We all know Lost... it started great... and it ended.

Luckily for me the TV channel where I was watching it stopped after season 4 and I never bothered to try and catch up again.

2004 - House MD

Sherlock Holmes goes to med school and instead of solving crimes, he solves impossible diagnostics.

Gotta give it to Hugh Laurie for beeing a lovable a-hole the whole time.

It did lasted too long for me, I didn't watch the final seasons but I did watched a few mixed up episodes in cable so I kinda know what happens after, lets say... season 4? (the final one I've watched, maybe).

2004 - CSI New York

Same as the others. Just watched for Gary Sinise and Edward Furlong's guest appearence.

2004 - Miss Marple

I was never a fan of Miss Marple in writting... but on TV she is less annoying.

How come she is never suspicious? She's always around when a crime happens!

2005 - Invasion

Does anybody else remembers this TV show set after the Katrina hurricane that, apparently, also uncovered a race of aliens living underwater that have a body-snatching way of taking over the world? It's only 1 season, got cancelled I believe and I watched it on TV at 6 or 7 AM while getting ready to go to school. Ah, old times!

2005 - Mosca & Smith (Argentina)

(Mosca can be translated as "Fly" -the bug- but in this case is the character's Last Name so I'll leave it as it is)

Buddy cop with two overly eccentric characters. A silly comedy with some really in-depth meta humor of argentinean justice system. Some jokes are in poor taste... and I think it got raunchier in it's second season (I didn't watched it because one of the leads was replaced and the 2nd actor didn't had the same punch)

2005 - Bones

A forensic anthropologyst helps the FBI to solve crimes.

This is the BrainTM taken to an extreme. Dr. Temperance Brennan just can't be good at eeeeeverything. This kinda changed as seasons passed but still... who says smart people is always entirely clueless about how to be a normal human? And why so egocentric? (Most truly smart people are usually super-humble because they know that there is a lot more to learn).

In any case, it is fun. Watched on TV (earlier seasons) and continued on bootleg DVD.

2006 - Ugly Betty

The main reason why I didn't listed Betty, la fea in here it's because it is a telenovela (soap opera) everybody in Latinoamérica watched it. Some things are not so good (maybe I'll write about it one day) but overall it had a good story.

Those dubious things got changed in the U.S version... and it changed the whole story. It was easier to create something new than trying to bring people on board using a name that is well beloved to a certain ethnicity... just saying.

2007 - El Hombre que volvió de la muerte (The man that came back from Death -Argentina)

Think of a mash up of The Count of Montecristo and V for Vendetta.

It was a remake of a TV show done in the 60s... 70s? By Narciso Ibañez Menta, a Spanish actor that was naturalized as argentinean and was our very own mix of Boris Karloff (with his love for make up) and Vincent Price (he did a lot of Edgan Allan Poe stories as well). The original story was about Elmer Van Hess, who was subject to different experiments. The lab caughts on fire, he's inside and survives. For whatever reason his organs end up being given to other people so he embarks on a quest to retrieve them.

The remake also had Elmer Van Hess who was a happy fool about to get married, his boss and associates set him up and ends up in prision for fraud. Not happy with that, his boss strikes a deal with a Doctor so Elmer can be his human guinea pig (in order to do so, he asks other inmates to torture him while in prision so his only escape would be to go with the Doctor). He's experimented on as results he gets superhuman strenght and, of course, the chemicals affect his brain turning him into a very dark and blood-lust creature. The lab is set on fire, everybody thinks he died but he comes back 10 years later ready to take revenge on all of them. He was very cruel and his idea of revenge was very Saw-like... but deep down he's still in love with his almost-wife and she's the only one that can sort of ease him in the worst moments.

For an argentinean fiction it was very good.

2008 - Fringe

The X Files but even crazier? You got it.

Mom and I did got lost after season 4... but we still have the bootleg DVDs, it's just that we should start all over again and we don't have a lot of time 😝

2008 - The Mentalist

A guy is so good at reading people that decides to ripp them off saying that he's a medium. He got the wrong guy, this guy kills his family so now it's personal!

Patrick Jane's quirks might be amusing in the early episodes but after a while you, just like everyone else on the show, will want to punch him in the face.

From my little corner of the Earth I scream: Justice for Cho!! He also deserved a happy ending!

2009 - Doll House

A bunch of people got their memories wiped and now they receive other memories (fabricated sometimes) to take on dangerous tasks.

Dubious consent galore... but overall the premise was engaging. It lasted 3 seasons, the third one included a time-jump... the end didn't quite landed for me but... meh! It's entertaining at least.

2009 - Flashfoward

The entire world fainted at the same time. Everybody had visions of the future... so now some things need to be prevented for whatever reason.

Only one season, got cancelled. I don't remember a thing except the tribute to one of Jorge Luis Borges stories (El Jardín de los senderos que se bifurcan/ The garden of paths that bifurcate) and another to David Bowie's song Scary Monsters and Super Creeps. That's all I remember, I swear.

2009 - Modern Family

Sitcom that broke some barriers on what a typical family looks like. It's fun...but yeah, it also bored me.

Note to everybody: not all latinos sound like Sofía Vergara... not even Sofía Vergara sounds like Sofía Vergara the whole time.

#very vague tv reviews by harleiquina #very vague reviews by harleiquina #tv shows #1980s #1990s #2000s

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tsuri-chan · 2 months

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Episode 1109-1110: Takagi and Date and the Notebook Promise

Based on volume 101-102, files 1079-1081

Plot in five keywords:

The Detective Boys witness how Sato and Takagi are chasing and catching a culprit

Takagi wants to take notes about the case, when he finds a code from Date inside his notebook

Conan is able to read the code and it says that a deal would take place at Café Poirot

Looks like a boy in a car showed signals for help and Conan thinks that he must be part of the deal

Takagi remembers that a boy was kidnapped by two men a year ago and the case couldn't get solved until this day and the deal is still going on

Important plot development:

We get to know that Ai is currently alone in Agasa's house because of his leg injury, but Yukiko looks for her from time to time

Ai says that she can't always be afraid, but then, she has a flashback of Gin

Takagi remembers that Date wanted to make him a man

We get to know that Date found the code and promised to the kid that he will solve the case, but then he died (after dropping his notebook on the street and getting hit by a car)

We get to know that Takagi is still using Date's notebook

Minor Takagi x Sato relationship progress

Amuro pretents that he doesn't know Date

Takagi and Date lived close to each other

Sato asks Amuro if they have met before, but he declines

Amuro looks at Sato's car, saying that it's the same car model as his. Sato says she inherited it from her father, who was also working at the police. Amuro says that it's interesting and Sato still wonders if they really haven't met before. Obviously Amuro lies when he declines again

One of the kids wants to thank Date for saving his brother. Takagi doesn't tell him that Date is dead

Rating:

7/10 Game Man 7 consoles

There are funny moments, but also plot relevant scenes. We get to know more about Takagi's and Date's past. The case itself is interesting, but I think we've had better crimes before. Still, this two-parter is a must-watch because of the plot development.

#detective conan #detektiv conan #dcmk #episodes #rewatch #episode1109 #episode1110

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roydeezed · 11 months

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Some Thoughts about - Poker Face

So like I know I'm late to the party but hot damn! is this show so much of what I love.

First of all I need to gush over Natasha Lyonne. Not only does she play Charlie as a snoopy little gremlin incredibly well, but when she's not snooping, her everywoman acting is so sincere and heartfelt. And beyond her acting, her directing in episode 8, The Orpheus Syndrome is jaw-dropping. It's a surrealist thriller masterpiece along the lines of fucking Suspiria and Vertigo. Throughout the whole episode I was captivated and entranced and it wasn't until I checked the credits that I realised why it was so impactful. I haven't watched much of her directorial efforts outside episode 8 of Russian Doll, but it seems like her style has always been surrealist. I gotta check it out.

And speaking of Vertigo and Hitchcock, I think after the longest time, we finally have a director that rivals his sensibilities in Rian Johnson. Hitchcock was a piece of shit but it's undeniable that his thrillers were tense masterpieces. If you don't believe me, check out my personal favourite in Rear Window. But not only does Rian Johnson remind me of Hitchcock at his best, with mysteries such as Brick and the Glass Onion movies and now Poker Face, his penchant for creating affable Detectives with kind hearts reminds me of Agatha Christie's characters in Miss Marple and Poirot.

But that's all surface level talk so below the cut I'm gonna get into some deeper thoughts and what I think the overarching themes are. Heavy spoilers below!

And speaking of themes, I wanna go over what they are, and how Episode 7, 8, and 9 helped me figure it out. At least one of the central ones. And that being Guilt.

After praising it so much, I do think I need to offer up some criticism, as I do have some. While a lot of comparisons have been made to Columbo, I think one of the key differences is that the culprits aren't always from high society, to the shows detriment. And as Charlie isn't a cop and instead fleeing across the country, it makes sense and leaves room for interesting stories. But every once in a while, like Episode 7, The Future of the Sport, starring Charles Melton and Tim Blake Nelson, both of whom I adore, you get a emotionally and socially dissonant story. As somehow the blue collar worker who's fighting against nepotism in an industry still has to be the bad guy. While it supported the themes, it still left a bad taste.

Now, you might be saying, it's a show about murders, of course it's about guilt. But it's not in the way you're thinking. Unless you are, in which case, welcome to smart people town. Population you, cause outside of this I'm still pretty much a dumbass.

Moving on, let's go over it. Poker Face talks of an unwarranted guilt. I'm sure Rian Johnson and co had a pithier phrase to represent it but what it means is that it represents a kind of survivors guilt. In Charlie's conversation with David Castaneda's character Jimmy in where she admits how much Natalie's death has weighed on her. And with the reveal that he wasn't directly responsible for her death through selling her bad coke, and the previous episodes where Tim Blake Nelson's and Nick Nolte's character's both realise they weren't the culprits, it shines a light on the constant theme of wholly unwarranted guilt.

And across the rest of the episodes, barring episode 2 for a reason I can't yet figure out, it deals with Charlie thinking she either led them to their death's, having something to do with the deaths even for the smallest moments, or helping someone that thinks they're guilty such as the stage manager in Episode 6, Exit Stage Death.

But unwarranted guilt alone provides for a pretty flimsy theme if left alone. So how's it expanded upon? The last episode makes it clear through dialogue, revelations into Charlie's past and actions themselves that this unwarranted guilt breaks you down in such a specific way. In the last episode we get what seems to be a pointless return to Charlie's past. But learning about how she moves through life, another unwarranted piece of guilt and this metaphor of swimming, brought up again at the boat, we see how the guilt puts you in a situation where either you drown from it or you swim. And the direction you swim in, the way you move through life, is inherently affected by the guilt that's drowning you, and ultimately can lead you to make bad decisions, as the first thing that comes along that can stop you from drowning, be it a boat, a life preserver, or as Cliff mentions multiple times throughout the show, The Hook. The Hook is a distraction, something deadlier than the sea that you're drowning in, and fortunately for a detective show, and unfortunately for her, Charlie's hook is trouble.

#poker face #charlie cale #rian johnson #poker face tv #poker face spoilers #poker face 2023 #poker face peacock #natasha lyonne

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beauty-and-passion · 2 years

Text

Sanders Sides Q&A: learning more

As you all can deduce from the title, this isn't a normal Sanders Sides episode: this is a Q&A, so we will have just funny questions, funny answers, a lot of laughs and zero foreshadowing. Definitely.

Okay, fine, there is some foreshadowing. And the way it has been used kinda confirms what I said in my last analysis: something changed. This series isn't just "funny sketches with funny figures" anymore. The figures are now characters, with names and personalities. And with this Q&A, Thomas is making his public aware of it.

___________

Murderers and lies

[Thomas]: What is your favorite book? [Logan]: Ooh! The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie. Phenomenal ending. The murderer was— [Thomas]: WHAAAT ARE YOU DOING?! [Logan]: What? I'm providing valuable insight into the novel.

If you never read this book and want to do it, skip this part because, as you can guess, I will spoil the ending.

This book has a narrator, Dr James Sheppard, who becomes Poirot's assistant for the case. At the end of the book, with an unexpected plot twist, we find out that the narrator was the murderer. For the entire time, he used literary techniques to conceal his guilt: he never openly lied, but he didn't tell the entire truth either. He wrote down his thoughts and notes about the case, but hid his involvement. In other words: he is the perfect example of an unreliable narrator.

Agatha Christie uses this literal figure to play a "mind game" with the readers and to emphasize the intelligence of her detective: at the end, Poirot finds out who the murderer was, because he read what Sheppard wrote. So he basically read the entire book, just like us. He has no other information, aside from the same that has been given to us.

But while we were distracted by the story and the plot, Poirot was not, he connected all the dots and found the culprit.

I think Logan likes this book, exactly because of this little “mind game”. In other thrillers, the reader has a passive role and all the narrator does is accompany them to the solution. Here the reader can be involved, if they are clever enough to connect all dots and not trust anyone, narrator included. It is an unexpected change and a nice stimulation for a logical, analytical mind.

In addition to that, we cannot deny the role lies play in this novel. Lies are what kept the story together and offered the plot twist. They are essential for the story. But they are also what hid the truth until the end.

And if we think about this, Logan's words in CLBG are even more interesting:

[Logan]: Given all the variations of dishonesty, lies of omission, lies of commission, et cetera, lies can be fairly difficult to avoid. (...) Very few people are always honest one hundred percent of the time. They're a very rare breed.

No one can be honest all the time, not even a narrator. Lies are difficult to avoid, because they are everywhere, even when they are not supposed to be. Like, you know, during the narration of a thriller.

And yes, lies are very different. Because one thing is the suspension of disbelief: this is a necessary lie to enjoy the story. Another thing is the narrator lying to hide their involvement.

[Deceit]: What you don't know can't hurt you. [Logan]: FALSEHOOD. Knowledge is an incomparably valuable multi-purpose tool that is instrumental in identifying and solving any problem. If you're worried about getting hurt... then seek knowledge; it is our greatest weapon... and our greatest defense.

In The Murder of Roger Ackroyd knowledge is both a weapon and a defense. Sheppard used it to build a complex lie that could have fooled the readers, Poirot shielded himself from that lie by seeking knowledge. And, as Logan says, knowledge can be used to solve a problem indeed - like a muder case.

___________________

Rectifying the mistake

[Thomas]: Are you the same for everybody? [Anxiety]: No, I'm not the same for everybody. I'm Thomas' anxiety. Everyone's works differently. [Thomas]: Yeah, mine's just a little... heightened. [Anxiety]: Exactly. Can I go? [Thomas]: Nah, stick around. [Anxiety]: You never want me to stick around...

Here we can see Thomas fixing the mistake he made in Anxiety’s introductory video. Now we have a clear confirmation that this guy is not the general concept of anxiety, but Thomas’ specific anxiety. And that means Morality, Creativity and Logic are also Thomas' specific aspects, not general concepts.

This gives Mr. Sanders a lot more creative freedom, because his characters do not have to stick to the norm anymore: if they are specific for one individual, they can be the embodiment of these general concepts, but also something more. They can have more functions. And they can do things usually impossible to do (like ducking out).

Also, please notice that this is the first time Thomas asks Anxiety to stick around. For the first time, Thomas doesn't give him the cold shoulder, but accepts his presence. And I love the surprise/confusion on Anxiety's face: it clearly implies that this has never happened, Thomas has never wanted him around.

Something is starting to change.

___________________

Princey, Princey, Princey...

[Thomas]: Princey (...) do you have a prince or princess that you are in love with? [Princey]: I am currently between princes and princesses. I am on a solo quest to help save... myself, for right now.

Oh, Princey. What a bad liar you are. Saving yourself or thinking about yourself? Sure, name me three times this happened. Do you know what I remember of you, my dear "oh no, I am thinking about me, I should love me first?"

[Roman]: I so... SO badly want this. I- I'm desperate for it... but you can't have true love... if the relationship isn't built on truth. (FWSA)

Ah yes, truly the words of a man who thinks about himself only and is not desperately searching for love because this way he can ignore everything else going wrong in his life.

___________________

Time to overanalyze... or not?

Yep, it's time to talk about the songs. Again.

(I will keep it short this time, I swear.)

Thomas asked his sides how they are feeling and they should reply with a song title. The titles have been chosen to emphasize their personalities: so Logic is just okay, Anxiety is not okay, Creativity is confident (I know, I know, it's funny just like this) and Morality is a silly guy. There is nothing else to analyze.

But hey, welcome to the Sanders Sides fandom: we love to overanalyze everything and this is exactly what I will do with these songs.

Before starting: of course there is a very huge possibility that these songs have just been chosen because of their titles. I know that. But I also know that Mr. Sanders likes to hide hints. And one of these songs is in one of the Sides' playlist (and we know by Thomas' own admission that the playlists have meanings and references). So these songs might just be random... but also they might be not.

And if they're not, get ready because some of them are incredible.

---

LOGIC: Comfortably Numb

When I found out what this song was about, it blew my mind.

First of all, it is based on a true story: the singer was sick before a show, so the doctor injected him with some tranquilizer to enable him to perform. Thanks to the meds, he was finally able to go on stage, but he was also suffering the counter effects of the tranquilizer: his hands were stiff, his vision was blurry. However, no one in the public realized that, because they were too excited and kept jumping/screaming.

This leads to one of the biggest themes of this song: the lack of communication between the public and the band. The singer doesn't feel any physical pain anymore, sure, but the medicines didn't give him happiness. He is alone. Other people see him, but no one listens to him.

Doesn't that remind you of anything?

That's not all. If we go deeper, this song can be considered a huge metaphor. Going on stage equals facing society, relationships and everything going on in your life. In order to do that, society pretends you are productive and successful, even when you don't feel like it.

So, in order to satiate that need, you take your medicine. And this medicine can be anything that suppresses your pain, your emotions, your humanity. Because these parts of yourself are not important, when you have to be productive. You cannot waste time dealing with pesky feelings, when there is a job to do.

But refusing to deal with your humanity and rejecting parts of yourself doesn't make you feel better. On the other hand, it makes you numb to everything. You might be physically here, but your own self is not present. You are watching your life from the outside, as if everything is just a show and you are slowly moving away from it.

This is what Comfortably Numb is about. Loneliness, searching for a meaning, inability to communicate, losing of humanity. And these are all issues Logan has. All of them.

And what surprises me the most is that they have always been here since episode ten. Even before Logan became the frustrated, passive-aggressive character he is now, all of his issues have been revealed to us by a goddamn song in a goddamn Q&A.

I refuse to believe this was just a huge coincidence and blame Mr. Sanders instead for being so good at hinting stuff.

---

CREATIVITY: All I Do Is Win

If Logan's song literally smacked all of his issues in our faces, this one doesn't have as much to offer.

The song is about how cool and awesome the singer is. It has a lot of motivational, uplifting vibes, to the point we can consider it a sort of "hymn to himself".

And okay, maybe there is not much to offer, but it can still give us an insight about Roman - or, more precisely, about this Roman. About the Side he was before accepting Anxiety and the wedding/callback thing.

In my Roman's playlist analysis, I noticed the first songs were very focused on how he had expectations to follow and he had to follow them all. A perfect example is Holding Out for a Hero: Roman had to be strong and brave and always ready to fight, never a moment of weakness, greater and more awesome than anyone else.

All I Do Is Win reminds me a lot of Holding Out for a Hero: if the second song listed all great things Roman should do and what he must be to be the perfect hero for Thomas, the first one acts as an self-motivational song. He has to be a perfect hero, right? So he must believe he can do it, he is the coolest and the best and everyone loves him.

But we all know this is not Roman. Roman is not so overconfident, but he is actually very insecure. This makes this song part of the whole façade Roman put on. He must be great and awesome, so he tries to convince himself and the public he truly is, by choosing a song that overflows with confidence as much as possible.

Because no one will suspect anything, if he keeps acting as if he's the best.

---

ANXIETY: I’m Not Okay (I Promise)

I already talked about this song when I analyzed Virgil's playlist (you can find the complete analysis HERE).

What I want to reaffirm here is the connection between this song, what we learned about Anxiety until now and the foreshadowing that is hinted here about his future.

First of all, the line "You sing the words, but don’t know what it means", which connects beautifully to what Anxiety will say in this same episode, when he calls the Core Sides "clueless morons". They think they know reality, but they know nothing. They are clueless.

And, just like they cannot understand reality, they cannot understand Virgil either. ("You said you read me like a book/But the pages are all torn and frayed now"). They think they know him, because they think he is just a bad guy. But he's not. And he is tired of being seen as such. Hence why he is not okay.

Also, if you remember his playlist, the following song was about him ducking out, so this one can be considered a huge foreshadowing of what will come.

---

MORALITY: I Am The Walrus

This song is... interesting.

Honestly, I didn't know what to expect. Patton's playlist has been very difficult for me to put into words, so I supposed this song wasn't easy either.

And it's not. It's very weird.

Let's start from the beginning: "I am the Walrus" is one of Beatles' songs, written by John Lennon and the title is based on a poem called "The Walrus and the Carpenter" which appears in Through the Looking-Glass.

The poem describes how a carpenter and a walrus gain the trust of a group of oysters, only to betray and eat them. In the book, Alice tries to determine which of the two is more sympathetic because was more sorry or ate less, but at the end she just says they are both unpleasant.

A ton of people gave a ton of different interpretations to this poem. Some said it was an allegory of religion, others that it was political.

My personal, very biased, very influenced by Sanders Sides interpretation is that these two are both liars and deceivers and oh wow, what a surprise, once again we have a connection between Patton and Janus. As if there weren't enough in his playlist.

And if we think about that, I would like to add what Lennon said about it:

"Later, I went back and looked at it and realized that the walrus was the bad guy in the story and the carpenter was the good guy. I thought, Oh, shit, I picked the wrong guy. I should have said, 'I am the carpenter.' But that wouldn't have been the same, would it?"

So the walrus is the bad guy. The walrus, the one Patton chose.

I know, it sounds so perfect. There is everything and I can write an endless post about this and the possible implications of Patton considering himself the bad guy and so on.

But do you want to know what the truth is? That this poem has no meaning. There is nothing hidden here. It's just a poem for children.

And believe it or not, but this is also the theme of the entire song.

You heard me right: I Am The Walrus does not have a meaning. John Lennon wrote it during two different acid trips and made this song, by picking a lot of references from everything around him and putting them together. So we have connections to other songs (Beatles' ones included) and references to random stuff like cornflakes or police sirens, nursery rhymes, a ton of writers, even theatrical pieces like King Lear.

I know what you're thinking: why? Why would he write this song? Well, there is a reason. The reason was a teacher from Quarry Bank High School in Liverpool, who made their student analyze the lyrics of Beatles' songs. And so, John Lennon decided to write the most nonsensical lyrics ever. I respect him for such a power move.

Okay, so now we know what this song is about. Now we can ask ourselves: why did Thomas Sanders choose this song for Morality?

Maybe he did it just for the joke: ahah everyone picks an emotion/mood but he picked something nonsensical, what a funny guy he is.

Maybe he did it to send a message to us: do not over-analyze everything. Not everything has been planned down to the smallest thing, some details are just coincidence. It makes sense, considering how much we like to overanalyze everything and how, sometimes, Mr. Sanders has to remind us that coincidences exist too.

But, maybe, there is another reason. Isn't it strange that all other songs are somehow related to the Side, but Morality's is just a message from Thomas to the public? What if this isn't a message from Thomas, but from Morality himself?

Do you remember how his playlist started? With Spongebob's campfire song. A nonsensical song that has nothing to do with anything else. A song that was a red herring and a way to discourage people to dig deeper. Why listen to other songs? Just listen to this one! There is nothing important if you keep going.

I Am The Walrus has the exact same vibes. Why should you dig more and over-analyze everything? There is nothing to see here! Just a happy, innocent, smiling Morality. Nothing to hide here, no issues, no sad feelings.

Maybe this is the reason why Morality picked this song. After all, he already tried to deceive the public once, why couldn't he do it again?

______________________

Just look at them being Youtubers

[Thomas]: If you all had your own YouTube channels, what would their content be? [Logan]: Videos analyzing the themes and pointing out inconsistencies in TV shows, movies, and comic books.

Logan confirms to be the best, because these are my favourite kind of videos. Especially the critical ones and especially if they are well made with irony and sarcasm. I could watch them for more hours than I already do.

[Princey]: Epic fail compilations! ...Of all the horrible deaths my enemies incur after I impale them.

So a channel with your brother, I see.

[Anxiety]: I would make a bunch of videos about conspiracies and cryptids.

So Virgil will be the next Wendigoon? Good taste, my boy. Good taste.

[Morality]: My channel would have videos of me playing with goo and mixing paint! [Logan]: Oh, autonomous sensory meridian response videos! [Morality]: Eh, I'm pretty sure it’s just me playing with goo and paint.

Okay, so he wants to make one of those videos without context that, in five years, will be shared everywhere, people will start making horrific theories and it will become an internet creepypasta? Good for him.

___________________

Anxiety is a nice bean (more or less)

This is definitely my favourite part. I just love Anxiety blasting everyone and the reactions are absolute perfection.

[Thomas]: Anxiety, can you say one nice thing about all of us? [Anxiety]: Oh, brother... Ok. [Anxiety]: Dad, you make Logic furious, and that is fun to watch... even though you're a clueless moron the rest of the time. [Morality]: Aw, ok.

I love how Patton's reaction is just "ok". He himself is the first to acknowledge that yeah, he is a clueless moron the rest of the time. He himself knows he acts silly. I am not crazy when I say this guy is much more mature than it seems.

I also like how Anxiety's compliment is "you are funny", because it's the exact same thing he will tell him during AA-part 2 ("You're a funny guy").

[Anxiety]: Logic, you understand reality better than the other two, and that is very comforting... but you are still a clueless moron most of the time. [Logan]: How dare you.

I love Logan’s reply. The expression, the voice, everything is wonderful and cracks me up every single time.

But also, let's consider Anxiety's words. First of all, he says Logan understands reality better than the other two Sides. He acknowledges that the logic Side has a more complete, mature vision of the world. And even if he tells him he is still a clueless moron, he specifies “most of the time”: that implies there are moments in which he is not, in which he is clever.

Basically, he made him the biggest compliment. He told him he is a mature guy and that it is very nice to have someone like him around, who is clever enough to understand how the world works.

[Anxiety]: Prince, I gotta say, you do impress me... by being a clueless moron ALL the time. [Princey]: Well that wasn't remotely nice.

Princey, my dear, you cannot pretend to not be considered a clueless moron, considering you are still deep into the black/white mentality and acting like a huge man-child :P

[Anxiety]: And Thomas... [Thomas]: Spare me the compliment.

How dare you, Mr. Sanders, to deprive us of Anxiety's insult? I couldn't wait to hear him say something like "you are just a moron, not even clueless".

In order to repent for this, I pretend an episode with just Thomas and the dark bois. Why? Because we need more beautiful insults. So what’s better than Virgil saying he’s an idiot, Remus calling him prude and Janus being his mother and complaining about everything Thomas does?

___________________

What a majestic troll

[Thomas]: What are all of your real names?! (...) [Thomas]: ...Well, that was thoroughly and utterly disappointing! Guess we'll all find out later.

Just look at this man. Just look at him clicking his tongue and winking. He is screaming "Yes, they all have names and I know them! And I (probably) already planned the season finale!".

He is a sassy bitch, I love him for that.

But also: if he already planned the Sides' names and the season finale... does that mean Mr. Sanders already planned the other Sides too? Because in AA part 2, Roman will say there are "others". So, in order to say that line, that means Thomas and Joan already had other Sides in mind.

Let's also consider what Thomas said at the end of the video:

[Thomas]: I hope this helped you get to know the different facets of my personality a little bit better! They are an eclectic bunch. And hopefully, we get to learn a little bit more about them in videos to come!

This heavily implies Thomas and Joan already had an idea of the following episodes, on what would happen, on the Sides that would come. Maybe they were still lacking a more defined outline, but AT LEAST they knew three more Sides were supposed to come.

And that means that, from now on, we will start to see little hints dropped here and there. Maybe they won't all be made on purpose, but they will start to appear.

And that means things will soon get very, very interesting.

_______________________________

A haunting realization

[Morality]: Aww, there's so much cool stuff they've done for us online, kiddos! [Princey]: Oh yeah? [Morality]: There's some really neato artwork of us all AND some writing as well! Say, what is a "ship"? [Logan]: Seriously, Morality, you don't know what that is? It is a craft designed for water travel. [Anxiety]: Even Prince knew that. [Princey]: Yeah, even I knew that. [Morality]: Oh, ok! It does not look like that, but ok.

Morality canonically read fanfictions. This guy, with the face of a puppy and the naive innocence of a child. This guy who has no idea what "adultery" means. This guy who loves dogs more than anything else. This guy read fanfictions.

Just let this realization sink in. Just think of the last fanfictions you saw - yes, that BDSM one included (I know there is, they are everywhere). Just think that this man read it with his own two eyes.

Well, I will just leave you with this little terrifying awareness. Good luck trying to sleep now ~

( Support me on Ko-fi )

_______________________________

TAGLIST:

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leseigneurdufeu · 8 months

Text

you know what would be neat?

in a few years, a mini series (six episodes maybe, maybe less?) of Cobert.

New actors obviously, maybe just Rosamund Painswick taking the role of the younger Violet. Centered around Cora and Robert meeting, marrying despite Violet's disapproval, and Robert falling in love about "a year after the wedding". Rosamund marrying Marmaduke, the "rough diamond", who's the grandson of a manufacturer. Jarvis was always the previous lord grantham's man, not Robert's. Maybe see Robert with his very first dog (i could see Cora gifting one to him after all). Carson is a much younger valet or first footman. Elsie (Mrs Hughes) is hired as a maid. And, given the dates of the Boer Wars, it's highly possible we'd also get to see a young Mr Bates help Robert into the train leading to war while Cora is there with toddler Mary and babies Edith and Sybil to see him off.

Inspired by the fic I read yesterday, we could also have the whole cast of the first season come together again and act out Hercule Poirot stories since it happens around the same time anyway. THe Kenneth Branagh adaptations are awful so might as well fill the niche.

And then, for, idk, the 10 years of the second movie? BAM!

Downton Abbey: Part II.

Six seasons and two movies about George Crawley and his cousins' coming of age in a Great Britain at the edge of a war. Downton Abbey serving as a home for kids sent to the countryside to escape the war. Johnny Bates and Caroline Talbot go to the movies together to watch an Errol Flynn, but they're what, 15? and he kisses her on the cheek but it never goes anywhere and then thanks to a retiring Dr Clarkson he gets an internship and starts training in medicine. Freddie Moorsum, the new doctor of Downton, tries to claim the abbey as he is convinced that he is the son of Robert, since his mother had an affair with Lord Grantham when she was working here as a maid, had to give her notice halfway through, and Lord Grantham had not only paid for this studies but written to the headmaster of Ripon Grammar to get him accepted in. Robert denies everything but later admits to Cora in private (because I'm salty that she never knew), Freddie is ridiculed and then realizes the dates don't add up, after the war Johnny comes back from school as a doctor but he's too late, Caroline is getting married. George is in conflict with his mother over the girl he chose to marry, Sybbie was in France when it was invaded and now they're all worried for her, Marigold falls in love with a guy who belongs to the wrong political party (depending on the time, either a liberal or downright a fascist of britain). Violet Branson, or whatever the name of baby branson is, falls in love with Peter Pelham (they're not technically related except through Maud Bagshaw) but the family doesn't approve. Henry and Mary have an awful argument and he goes to stay at his club for a few days. He dies in the Blitz and soon after comes a girl with a baby saying he's named Talbot. They later discover Henry didn't cheat on Mary but this girl thought the son in law of the earl of grantham was his heir (infos dating back to Matthew) and wanted to hijack the inheritence so when she learned he had died in London she decided to abduct a kid the appropriate age from an orphanage and roll with it. Sort of a Peter Gordon situation but with a satisfying end.

Not every series needs to keep going forever, not every movie needs a reboot, remake, or "20years later with their kids" sequel, but I think if a series lends itself to the thing it's Downton Abbey.

#downton abbey

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mamenchisaurus1717 · 2 years

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Shinichi's Perfect Rival?

spoilers for Chapters 350-354 (Episodes 266-268), and very minor spoilers for Chapters 981-983 (Episodes 885-886) and 1039-1042 (Episodes 1024-1025)

There are many potential rivals to Kudo Shinichi in the Detective Conan universe. First, there's Hattori Heiji, the "Great Detective of the West" to Kudo's "Great Detective of the East". There's Kaito KID, who's the modern-day Lupin to Kudo's modern-day Holmes. But of all of the characters, there is one person who would be an even better rival than Heiji or KID. Someone who mirrors Shinichi as a detective, while also being morally at odds with him. That someone... is Ooka Momiji. Yes, the rich girl from Kyoto. Let me explain.

Okay, let’s start with the first piece of the puzzle: Momiji’s detective skills. In one case, she is implied to have come to the right conclusion before Shinichi, Heiji, and Rei while not even being in the same city as them.

Neither Shinichi or Heiji has shown much ability to solve cases without being present at the crime scene itself. The best comparison I could make to Momiji's feat would be the time when Kudo Yusaku was reading the newspaper on a murder and figured out the solution to a case.

This isn't the only time when Momiji demonstrates her detective prowess, though. It's just the most clear. Another time, she gives a hint in the middle of a sentence which gives Heiji and Shinichi the needed information to solve the case.

This is the case where the code is solved by 'adding' and 'subtracting' different parts. Now, this leaves a lot up to interpretation, and I definitely didn't see this scene as Momiji being a really good detective when I first watched it, but if you really think about it, there was no reason for her to say "add" and "subtract". She could have just as easily said "The restaurant should make the food cheaper since the lines are so long." Which, now that I'm thinking about it, makes zero sense since that would only increase demand and make the lines even longer. So, my guess is that she was looking for a time to smoothly give the "add" and "subtract" hint, and found the perfect opportunity to say it.

(She did act surprised when they came up with the answer, but I'm just pegging that up to excellent acting. Wait, is she both of Shinichi's parents at the same time?)

Now, if Momiji solved the code before even talking to Heiji and Shinichi, that leaves a big plot hole. Specifically, why doesn't she just... go to the area herself (where she knew the guy was supposed to be) and potentially stop a murder from happening?

Well, the answer is actually very simple. Momiji is a brat who cares more about marrying Heiji than the life of an innocent person.

In the cases she appeared in she showed little to no interest in solving the case, instead usually pursuing Heiji. Even in the Cafe Poirot case, her motive is purely to 'help Heiji'. Despite being brilliant at it, she just does detective work whenever she feels like it. Also kinda like Yusaku, now that I think of it.

Anyways, I’m getting sidetracked. Let’s talk about Shinichi’s beliefs. Shinichi, unlike Momiji, actively pursues justice, that being the main reason he fights against the Black Organization for the same reasons. His moral compass even guides him to save the lives of people who attempt to kill others, just because he sees that the life of a person - any person - matters, even going out to say:

So, you have a detective who pursues justice and values his moral compass, and a detective who completely acts in her own self-interest. Seems like a perfect basis for a potent rivalry.

Now, why does it have to be Momiji? Why not his father, Yusaku, since he holds a lot of similar traits and has a closer connection with Shinichi already? Well, Yusaku is Shinichi’s superior, and Momiji is his peer. Shinichi might begrudgingly accept the fact that Yusaku is better than him and doesn't pursue the truth, but he most certainly would not accept Momiji being either of those things. And Momiji, who expects respect from others, would react very poorly to this.

If Momiji learns about Shinichi’s secret identity as Conan, she might blackmail him to be supportive of her advances on Heiji or something, causing him to hate her even more. As is, Shinichi would be poised to see her as a disdainful rival, but might try to blackmail her back to have her help him hide his identity.

However, putting Momiji at odds with Shinichi would do more than create tension against each other. It could easily give Momiji some more character dynamics. Currently, her only real dynamic is the love triangle with Heiji and Kazuha, but if she was rivals with Shinichi she would be able to have more interesting relationships with Shinichi, Ran (if she sees the rivalry happening), maybe even Heiji and Iori. And character dynamics lead to character growth. Spending more time with Shinichi could let her mature and become less selfish and spoiled.

For Shinichi, he gets a rival that is also a detective, but also ideologically opposes him for more than five seconds (Heiji, I love you, but you moved away from rivals to friends with Shinichi... very quickly.) And this conflict with Momiji can make Shinichi rise to become a better detective, and could give him a new ally that could help with the takedown of the Black Organization.

Who knows, maybe they develop into friends after a long time. Maybe they never develop a respect for each other. Either way, I believe that Momiji would be the perfect rival for Shinichi: they are both very skilled detectives (and if I had to give one an edge I'd give it to Momiji), but they have different priorities and goals which cause them to butt heads.

So... I hope you enjoyed reading this essay as much as I enjoyed writing it, and have an amazing rest of your day.

#detective conan #meitantei conan #kudo shinichi #shinichi kudo #momiji ooka #ooka momiji

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